Employee performance appraisal and productivity levels in selected Nigerian universities

Abstract

The focus of this study was on performance appraisal of academic staff of Universities in Nigeria and their productivity levels. The prime problem that necessitated this study was to examine the effectiveness of the subjective methods used in appraising qualitative work attributes of the employees and to assess the extent to which there is a functional linkage between appraisal feedback and employees reward systems.' The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between employee performance appraisal and productivity enhancement. The population of the study was made up of all the academic staff of the three Universities studied. A sample of 240 respondents was drawn from the population. The researcher adopted a cross sectional design (survey). Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire and treated with descriptive statistical technique and hypothesis tested and validated with the chi-square statistic. Interpretation of finding revealed that employee performance appraisal did not lead to productivity enhancement and that employees were not satisfied with the subjective methods. At the end of the study it was recommended that the appraisal system should allow for the appraisal of lecturers by student as well as the adoption of "rate the rater" appraisal approach. Specific motivational measures capable of boosting the morale and productivity levels of employees should also be encouraged.